A Restoration

The redevelopment of downtown Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon is a monument to contemporary ‘eco-friendly’ urban design.

Once a natural creek flowing from East to West through the city, the Cheonggyecheon stream became heavily polluted in the 1900’s and was eventually covered by an elevated highway in 1968. In the early 2000’s, the Seoul Metropolitan Government initiated a mammoth restoration project with the primary aim of restoring the stream and reintroducing nature in to the city.

In this #FutureofCities story, US ambassador Eli Reed takes a stroll through the area and documents the citizens of Seoul’s daily interactions within their newly remade parks, plazas and cultural attractions. The photographs depict a Seoul remade, and prompt consideration on our cities’ increasing struggle to integrate nature within the urban environment.

#FutureofCities - A Restoration

Visitors travel through a park area in the Cheonggyecheon area in downtown Seoul.
The park was built on ‘green belt’ land that was previously swampland. Redevelopment has enabled this area to become a place where city life and nature can co-exist. The park has provided a peaceful place for Seoul’s citizens, as well as a rich habitat for fish and birds.

#FutureofCities - A Restoration

A woman walks beneath Gwangtonggyo Bridge on the Cheonggyecheon stream in downtown Seoul.
The bridge was originally built by King Taejong during the Joseon Dynasty in 1410, but was later buried under an elevated highway during Korea’s post-war economic development.
As part of the restoration of the Cheonggye area, the bridge has been unearthed, restored and placed in a new location over the stream.

#FutureofCities - A Restoration

A boy walks through the shadows beneath Gwangtonggyo Bridge on the Cheonggyecheon stream in downtown Seoul.
The bridge was originally built by King Taejong during the Joseon Dynasty in 1410, but was later buried under an elevated highway during Korea’s post-war economic development.
As part of the restoration of the Cheonggye area, the bridge has been unearthed, restored and placed in a new location over the stream.

Eli Reed, Artisan Of Imagery

“Sony’s cameras have helped me document the world; the good and the bad. They’ve helped me photograph human suffering and sadness, as well as new possibilities and visions of a better future. “

Eli Reed has been a full member of the elite photography agency Magnum Photos since 1988, and a Clinical Professor at Austin’s University of Texas since 2005.

Eli joins the Sony Imaging Ambassadors with his #FutureofCities project A restoration; a photo series exploring the redevelopment of the Cheonggyecheon area in downtown Seoul.

About / Biography

Eli Reed has been a full member of the elite photography agency Magnum Photos since 1988, and a Clinical Professor at Austin’s University of Texas since 2005.

Over his years as a photographer, Eli has worked in many different genres of photography and has taken on assignments covering news, fashion, advertising and conflict documentary in areas including Central America, Africa, Haiti, and Lebanon. He has also published two personal books; Beirut, City of Regrets and Black in America.

Eli has been the recipient of a number of significant photographic awards including the NPPA World Understanding Award, the Oversea Press Club Award, a World Press Photo Award, the W. Eugene Grant for Documentary Photography and the Lucie Foundation Award for Documentary Photography. He was also nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1981.

Eli’s is currently working on a short fictional movie shot on the Sony α7 camera. His photography retrospective; Eli Reed: A Long Walk Home is due to be published in May 2015.]

Interview

Why did you choose to shoot your #FutureofCities story in the Cheonggyecheon area?

I’m both amazed and gladdened by the distance South Korea has gone to remake the Cheonggyecheon area, which was previously pretty terrible.

The redevelopment project has taken a long time and considerable expense, but Seoul has been really successful in transforming this area into a place of beauty for the residents of the city. It’s re-connected the urban landscape to nature, and created an ambiance that welcomes families and foreign visitors.

During my years as a photographer I have worked in so many places around the world that people truly believed were a lost cause. They couldn’t even conceive of changing things or investing in making the places better.

Cheonggyecheon has proved the people who doubt wrong, and shows that the possibilities for positive change are everywhere if you choose to acknowledge them.

What do you think of Sony’s involvement in the #FutureofCities project?

The Future of Cities project has come at the right time. The campaign is the perfect reminder of what can be done to change the world for the better.

It’s a great project for Sony to be involved in, and represents a call for people of conscience to take a proactive stand towards our global future.

Sony’s cameras have helped me document the world; the good and the bad. They’ve helped me photograph human suffering and sadness, as well as new possibilities and visions of a better future. Sony camera gear has been there for many people who care about the fate of the earth.